Heat insulating handle for cooking



June 13, 1950 F. D. PATTI HEAT INSULATING HANDLE Fon cooxmc UTENSILS Filed nec. a, 1945 Patented June 13, 1950 HEAT INSULATING HANDLE FOR COOKING UTENSILS Fred D. Patti, Chicago, Ill., assigner to Steelco Stainless Steel, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a, corporation of Illinois Application December 28, 1945, Serial No. 637,682

rhis invention relates to handles adapted for, but not limited to, use in connection with pans and other cooking utensils.

It is an object of my invention to provide a heat insulating handle construction which may be inexpensively manufactured and readily assembled.

An additional object of my invention is to provide a handle construction including handle parts adapted to be held together Iby screw means, the operation being such vas to resist loosening thereof.

A further object is to provide an insulating handle mounted on a core in such manner as to be incapable of rotating on the core even when the fastening means therefor becomes loose.

` Another object is to provide a novel handle construction involving a core adapted to be secured to a pan or the like and insulating mating handle elements adapted to be mounted about the core expeditiously.

It is also an object to provide an insulating handle structure including a metallic core adapted to be fastened to a pan or the like, the users hand being protected against contact with the core.

It is another object to provide a multi-part handle whose parts are readily replaceable.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear as the description proceeds. rEhe invention will be better understood upon reference to the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of an embodiment of my invention with attached utensil.

Figs. 2 and 3 are inside isometric views of the two mating exterior parts of the handle.

l Fig. 4 is an end elevation taken as indicated by the line 4-4 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation taken as indicated` by the line 5-5 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a plan View of the metal core of the handle, before assembly with the other parts.

Fig. 7 is an end elevation of one of the core members.

Fig. 8 is a left side elevation taken as indicated by the line 8--8 in Fig. l.

Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of the handle.

Figs. 10, 11, l2, 13 and 14 are sectional views taken as indicated by the lines lil-Ill, I l-l l, |2--|2, lS-IS and |4-I4, respectively, in Fig. 8.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary bottom plan view showing a preliminary step in the order of assembly of the parts.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, I have shown for illustrative purposes a por- Claims. (Cl. 16--116) tion of a pan 26 or other utensil 'or other article to which a preferably stainless steel or other suitable core 22 in accordance with my invention is projection welded as Shown at 24 or otherwise suitably secured. The core may be formed of two identical pieces of sheet metal as shown at 26 and 26, having stemsV 36 spot Welded together as at 32 adjacent one end 34 of such stems, the other end portions 36 of said stems being divergent. Each core piece has a substantially Z formation 38 at the end 340i its stem 36, providing a connected ilange 46, a web 42 extending substantially parallel to and away from the stem, and a free flange 43 which is depressed at spaced points to provide projections 44 whereby the flange is projection welded as at 24 to the pan or the like, said Z-formations together forming a yoke 45, and the stems together forming a shank 46. A hole 48 is formed transversely through the stems 36 adjacent the Z-formations.

The insulating handle structure comprises two mating or complemental handle elements 56 and 52 of plastic, Bakelite, Wood or other suitable insulating material, in certain respects identical and in others different. Each has a flat inner surface 54 with a longitudinal depression 56 intermediate the ends of said element, said depression being adapted to receive one of the aforesaid stems of said core, so that, when said stem is tted therein, the exposed surface 5l of said stem preferably does not project outwardly beyond said surface of the handle element.

The handle element 50, adjacent one end of said depression 56, has Walls 58 and 59 and a lug 66 forming a recess 6| which is L-shaped in horizontal cross-section and accommodates the connected flange 46 and the adjacent portion of the web 42 of the Z-formation, when a stem 30 is fitted in said depression. The L-shaped recess is closed at one side 62 and open at the other side 63. When the handle element 50 is to be assembled with one of the core pieces, say the core piece 26, it is necessary merely to substantially aline the L-shaped recess Si with the Corresponding L-shaped portion of the Z-formation of the core piece 26 and lower the handle element 56 until the closed side 62 ofthe L-shaped recess abuts the top edge 64 of the core piece 26. Inasmuch as the surface 54 of the handle element 50 is raised relative to the longitudinal depression 56 therein, the branch 66 of the L-shaped recess accommodating the web 42 is made of somewhat greater depth than the thickness of the core piece. If such depth were made at least equal to twice the thickness of the core piece, the web 42 would slide directly thereinto, without the necessity for tilting, but then there would remain an opening of substantial size through which dirt might enter. It is therefore desirable that the depth of the branch 65 of the L-shaped recess 6l be kept to a minimum. Accordingly, if such depth is only slightly greater than the thickness of the core piece, say about .010", such as may amount to a manufacturing tolerance, it is possible to effect entrance of the core piece 26 into the L-shaped recess 6| pursuant to slight relative tilting or roeking. This is depicted in highly exaggerated form in the inverted arrangement of Fig. 15, and, when the core piece 2S engages the side wall. 62 of said recess, the handle element I5i! is retilted to lodge the stem 30 in the longitudinal depression 5t. It will be noted that the branch 68 of the L-shaped recess 6l is also made over-sizeto provide clear-A ance for the tilting above referred to.

After the handle element 50 is mounted as above described, the other handle element 52 is appl'ied. This operation requires no manipulation other than merely slipping the element 52 transversely (horizontally)` into position. The

lug 6U- on the handle element 5U has a portion T/ projecting beyond the surface 54' of the handle element 5U and substantially abutting the inner surface 'IZof the web 42 of the core piece 28. The handle element 52', adjacent one end of the depression 56 therein, has walls 14 and T5 forming a recess 18' which extends to the free end 'I9A of the handle'element 52. The stem 30, ange 4U' and' adjacent portion of the web 42' of the core piece 28`a're accommodated in said depression 56 and recess 1`8. The recess' T8 is closed at both sides 8i) and 82 between. which is nested the projecting portion 'lll of the lug 6U ofthe handle element 5D. A lug 84 forming Van extension of the wall' 82 beyond Vthe surfaceV 54 ofthe handle element 52 is vaccommodated ina recess 85 between the bottom of the lug 6'9 and the bottom of the handle element 50', affording a passage for entrance of the core piece 26 i'ntotheL-shaped recess 6l in the handle element 59.v It is thus apparent that the "handle elements 59 and 52` closely embrace the webs `42 of the core pieces 26 and. 28.

The handle elements 50. and'52. have bores 90` in line with vthe bore .48 inthe core 2'2, the bores 99 being counter-bored as at 92. A sleeve nut 94 having a head 95 inone of the counter-bores 92` accommodates the thread of a screw 9S whose head 91 is dis-posed in the other counter-bore.

yThe end portions |09 of the handle elements 5 0? andl52 are formed with bores |92 and counterbores Hill,` accommodating a nut |98 and screw [08, the heads preferably being. disposedwithin the confines of theV handle elements as aforesaid,

when these are tightened. The divergent stem ends 36, when the assembly is complete, are flexed toward eachother and hence constantly exert a force holding the threads of the last mentioned nut and screw means |06, |08 in tight interengagement whereby to resist loosening thereof. Inasmuch as the rear nut and screw means |06, [U8 have no contact with the core 22, said means will be relativelyv unheated.

The handle elements may be formed with finger receiving recesses H0 and shoulders I`|2 to l assist in preventing the ngersof the hand holding the same from sliding into engagement withy merely the acts of fastening the two nut and screw means in place,

Various modications coming within the spirit of my invention may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art,v and hence I do not wish to belimited tothe speciiic form shown or uses mentioned, except to the extent indicated in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted as broadly as the state of. the art will permit.

I. claimz.

l. A handle construction comprising a metal'-l lic core having` a yoke adapted to be secured to a pan or other article and having a shank, a pair of mating handle members enveloping said shank from opposite sides and having means extending across anl end ofsaidshank in the crotch of said yoke, fastening means passing through said handle members and. shankv adjacent said yoke, and fasteningv means spaced from, said core and passing through said handle members, said shank having a bifurcated free end portion, the arms of which tend' to separate by reason of. their re-l silience, said handle members holding. said arms in closer juxtaposition than .when said arme are free, the f'asteningmeans spaced from said core being threaded, whereby the resilience of saidarms resists loosening of said threaded means.

2. InY a handle construction, a core adapted for.

securement to a pan or other article, said core comprising a pair of spring sheet metal members having elongated stems welded together in flatwise juxtaposition, said stems having normally separated free end portions, each of said mem-A bers, remote from said free end portions, being of generally Z-formation, with a rst flange extending transversely away from the other member, a web extending substantially parallel to and.

. away from its stem, and a free flange extending transversely away fromAv said stem, said free anges being formed for securement to a pan or other article.

3. Handle construction comprising a, pair of mating heat insulating handle elements, each elements, each element being formed with av longitudinal recess having two parallel offset walls and an intervening transverseV wall, for 'accommodating a similarly shaped metal handle core piece, one handle element having a lug projecting into the depression defined by two of said WallsA in. said one handle element and also pro-- jecting into the depression'dened by the corresponding two walls in the other handle elefor entrance of a core piece into said one handle element, said other handle elementl having, adjacent said corresponding depression, a lug projecting so as to close said passage, said. handleelements being formed forthe reception of fastening means for fastening. them. together.

4. A hand-le construction. comprising asup-- porting member having a yoke attachablel to a. pan. or other article and. an elongated. shank extending from said yoke, each branch of said yoke:

having a first portion extending transversely away from the other branch and a second portion extending substantially parallel to said shank, a

pair of mating heat insulating grip elements receiving said supporting member, said grip elements having registering longitudinal recesses in which said shank seats, the combined depth of said recesses being at least as great as but not substantially greater than the thickness of said shank, each of said grip elements having at one end of the elongated recess therein a deeper recess, with a wall transverse to said longitudinal recess therein and a second wall extending substantially parallel to said longitudinal recess therein, said nrst portion and a part of said second portion being engaged respectively with said walls, each grip element having a projection extending into said deeper recess in the other grip element and cooperating with said other grip element in substantially completely and separately enclosing the portions of said supporting member received therein, and means fastening said supporting member and grip elements together in operative assembly.

5. A handle construction comprising a metallic core having a yoke adapted to be secured to a pan or other article and having a shank, a pair of mating handle members enveloping said shank from opposite sides, fastening means passing through said handle members and shank, said shank having spring portions which tend to separate by reason of their resilience, said handle members holding said portions in closer juxtaposition than when said portions are free, the fastening means being threaded, whereby the resilience of said portions resists loosening of said threaded means.

6. Handle construction comprising a pair of mating heat insulating handle elements, each element being formed with a longitudinal recess having two parallel offset walls and an intervening transverse wall, for accommodating a similarly shaped metal handle core piece, one handle element having a lug projecting into the depression dened by two of said Walls in said one handle element and also projecting into the depression deiined by the corresponding two walls in the other handle element, said one handle element having a passage for entrance of a core piece into said one handle element, said other handle element having, adjacent said corresponding depression, a lug projecting so as to close said passage, and means for fastening said handle elements together.

7. A handle construction comprising a supporting member having a yoke attachable to a pan or other article and also having a shank extending from the crotch of said yoke, each branch of said yoke having a first portion extending transversely away from the other arm and a second portion extending substantially parallel to said shank, a pair oi mating heat insulating grip elements recessed to receive and completely enclosing said shank, said rst portions, individually, and the adjacent parts, individually, of said second portions, and means securing said grip elements and supporting member together in operative assembly.

' 8. A handle construction comprising a supporting member having a yoke attachable to a pan or other article and a shank extending from the crotch of said yoke, a pair of mating heat insulating grip elements recessed to receive and completely enclosing said shank and the adjacent portions, individually, of the branches of said yoke, and means securing said grip elements and supporting member together in operative assembly.

9. A handle construction comprising a sup porting member having a yoke attachable to a pan or other article and also having a shank extending from said yoke, a heat insulating hand grip comprising mating members enveloping said shank and individually enveloping the adjacent portions of the branches of said yoke, one of said members having a projection extending from one side of said yoke and between and substantially engaging the inner faces of said portions and terminating flush with the other side of said yoke, the other member having a projection extending across and substantially engaging said other side of said yoke.

10. In a handle, a core having means attachable to a pan or the like and also having a shank, said shank comprising a pair of elongated spring elements joined together and arranged alongside each other, portions of said elements being spaced apart when free, whereby said portions are adapted to be held closer together by and thus exert pressure on opposite parts of a handle r about said core.

FRED D. PATTI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,511,786 June 13, 1950 FRED D. PATTI It is hereby certied that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 4, lines 55 and 56, strike out the Words and comma each elements,;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oice.

Signed and sealed this 5th day of December, A. D. 1950.

[SEAL] THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents. 

